Sacramento Zoo officials said they had high hopes that two
rare Sumatran tigers would begin courting this week.
Mohan, a 12-year-old male, already had plenty of visual
contact with 15-year-old female tiger Baha since his arrival at the zoo in
December.
The idea was to get Mohan and Baha to reproduce as part of
the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan. Sumatran tigers
are considered critically endangered, with fewer than 400 still alive today,
according to the World Wildlife Fund.
“Both tigers’ behavior indicated that this was the proper
time for physical introductions,” the Sacramento Zoo said in a statement.
“Based on knowledge and experience from past successful introductions, staff
decided to physically introduce the tigers on Wednesday morning.”
The two tigers were placed inside of an enclosure, and
staff watched from outside as what was supposed to be one more step to keeping
the species alive ended in tragedy.
Mohan became “aggressive,” according to the zoo, and
attacked Baha within a matter of minutes, the Sacramento Bee reported. Staff
used a water hose and fire extinguishers to intercede, the Associated Press
reported, and secured Mohan elsewhere.
But by the time veterinarians got to Baha and tried to
resuscitate her, it was too late: She had already died from the attack,
according to the zoo.
“We are truly devastated at the passing of Baha,” the zoo’s
animal collection director, Matt McKim, said in a statement. “Not only was she
a wonderful ambassador and a truly attentive mother, she was also a
one-of-a-kind tiger that inspired many.”
Sacramento Zoo’s director and chief executive officer Kyle
Burks told the Bee that although it’s rare, aggression between tigers does
happen in captivity.
Mohan has since been removed from public viewing, the paper
reported.
Baha had been living at the Sacramento Zoo since 2002 and
leaves behind five living offspring, all bred through successful zoo
introductions, according to the zoo.
Female Malayan tiger Tiga Tahun, was killed as a result of
"aggressive behavior" by her intended mate during a breeding session
Saturday morning. Photo: Ken Bohn
Mohan (left) and Baha (right)
